Rental supervision: A new registration system for residential property managers

On Tuesday 24 March, the Government announced a new regulatory regime that will allow residential landlords and tenants to hold property managers to account if things go wrong. It will also give landlords and tenants better visibility of who they are dealing with from the start.

It’s just a proposal at this stage, but the new regime will require property managers to:

Be over 18 years old and meet minimum training and experience requirements
Sign up to a public registry, with renewal every 2 years
Hold all client funds in separate accounts from business funds
Be subject to a formal complaints and disciplinary process

The move recognises that the rental housing market is important to our society and economy. The intention is to assure landlords that their funds and assets will be managed properly and assure tenants that their property manager will comply with the law. Both landlords and tenants will have access to a Tribunal if standards are breached.

The new regime aims to be simple for property managers and property management organisations. It will be set up via the Residential Property Managers Registration Bill, yet to be introduced to Parliament.

More information is available on the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development website.

Author | Samantha Lay Yee

Samantha Lay Yee joins us as Senior Advocacy Advisor, bringing a wealth of experience from both central and local government. Most recently, she served as Principal Advisor at Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, where she contributed to policies shaping housing and community development.

Samantha is dedicated to making a positive difference through thoughtful advocacy. Known for her intelligence, kindness, and collaborative approach, she is committed to driving meaningful outcomes for our members and communities.